Man stole cellphone from Sheriff's Office, officials say

Published: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 6:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 6:22 p.m.

A Marion County Jail inmate trusty who officials said admitted to stealing a cellphone belonging to the Sheriff's Office so he could contact his girlfriend was re-arrested Friday and charged with petit theft and tampering with evidence.

Sgt. Robert Johnson, assistant director of Emergency Management, told Detective T.J. Watts that a Verizon cellphone that was to be used by volunteers had been stolen, which they discovered when they received a bill that indicated the device had been used July 11 through July 15.

Leon M. Burton, 23, who has been in jail since July 2012 for charges related to child support, possession of Xanax and possession of marijuana, was assigned to Emergency Management as an inmate trustee.

In investigating the number on the phone bill, it was determined it belonged to Burton's girlfriend, according to reports.

The woman told Watts she has a child with Burton and confirmed she had been receiving text messages and phone calls from him. She allowed Watts to review her cellphone and he retrieved all of the communications between the two, including some of a sexual nature.

Burton told Watts he took the phone to contact his girlfriend and said he later threw it in the trash.

"The Inmate Work program is an asset because it saves taxpayers money by providing manual labor for things such as litter control and facility maintenance. And, in turn, it teaches the inmates a work ethic and in some cases job skills that would enable them to be successful upon their release. When they violate that trust and the law, we act swiftly," said Capt. James Pogue, spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

<p>A Marion County Jail inmate trusty who officials said admitted to stealing a cellphone belonging to the Sheriff's Office so he could contact his girlfriend was re-arrested Friday and charged with petit theft and tampering with evidence.</p><p>Sgt. Robert Johnson, assistant director of Emergency Management, told Detective T.J. Watts that a Verizon cellphone that was to be used by volunteers had been stolen, which they discovered when they received a bill that indicated the device had been used July 11 through July 15.</p><p>Leon M. Burton, 23, who has been in jail since July 2012 for charges related to child support, possession of Xanax and possession of marijuana, was assigned to Emergency Management as an inmate trustee.</p><p>In investigating the number on the phone bill, it was determined it belonged to Burton's girlfriend, according to reports.</p><p>The woman told Watts she has a child with Burton and confirmed she had been receiving text messages and phone calls from him. She allowed Watts to review her cellphone and he retrieved all of the communications between the two, including some of a sexual nature.</p><p>Burton told Watts he took the phone to contact his girlfriend and said he later threw it in the trash.</p><p>"The Inmate Work program is an asset because it saves taxpayers money by providing manual labor for things such as litter control and facility maintenance. And, in turn, it teaches the inmates a work ethic and in some cases job skills that would enable them to be successful upon their release. When they violate that trust and the law, we act swiftly," said Capt. James Pogue, spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Burton had been slated for release in early November.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>